Birmingham, ALA. - The Mount St. Joseph University softball team and their #13 national ranking are in Birmingham, Ala. this weekend participating in what has to be one of the best early season events in DIII this year. The event features three of the top 13 teams in the country including #1 DePauw and the hosts of the event #5 Birmingham Southern. On day one of the event the Lions took down Asbury 8-0 to open their season before a dropping an extra innings thriller 4-3 to Birmingham Southern.
GAME ONE | #13 MSJ 8 - Asbury 0
In game one the Lions Coach
Beth Goderwis turned to a new face to start the season in the circle as she handed the ball to
Casey Kemp to begin the 2022 season. The transfer would not disappoint in her Lions debut, as she did not allow the first Asbury runner to reach base until the fourth inning.All told, Kemp threw 6.0 innings of two hit shutout ball while allowing only a pair of hits and striking out six. For her efforts she recorded her first win of the season.
Offensively the Lions got off to a bit of a slow start going scoreless for the first two innings of the season. In the bottom of the third inning though the offense started to get rolling. Kemp got the inning started with a base hit,
Ali Lang then grounded into a fielder's choice. Freshman
Macey Staley then delivered a base hit, an out later freshman
Kelsi Stevenson got the Lions going in a big way drilling her first collegiate homerun to put the Lions ahead 3-0.
GAME TWO | #5 Birmingham Southern 4 - #13 MSJ 3
In game two the Lions turned to a familiar face in
Kamryn McCool (Brookville, Ind./Franklin Co.) to start in the circle. McCool was effective in her first start of the 2022 campaign despite taking the loss. McCool tossed 7.2 innings giving up 7 hits and 4 runs (1 earned) while striking out 7 batters.
Offensively the Lions were held off the scoreboard in the first 6 innings despite accumulating 6 hits. The Mount got their scoring started in the top of the 7th inning.
Rachel Gabbard started the inning off with a single through the left side. After a strikeout and a fielder's choice the Lions were just one out away from ending the game. But, pitch runner
Alyssa Witmer would score on a wild pitch to trim the Lions deficit to 3-1. Following the wild pitch freshman
Macy Cornelius would add another run for the Lions knocking in
Macey Staley making it a 3-2 ballgame. The Lions weren't done yet as
Kelsi Stevenson singled to center field bringing in Cornelius and tying the game at 3.
Elizabeth Ivers added another single for the Lions but weren't able to tally another run. Birmingham Southern was held in check in the bottom half of the 7th and the Lions were held off the board in the top half of the 8th. But, Birmingham Southern would push the winning run across in the bottom of the 8th with 2 outs to secure the victory.
UP NEXT: Your Mount St. Joseph softball team will stay in Birmingham, Ala. and take on #1 DePauw and LeTourneau in a double-header. The first game versus #1 DePauw is scheduled to begin at 11AM followed by a 1PM start. Please continue to tune into msjlions.com for coverage of your MSJ softball team and all MSJ Athletics.
